Degron Therapeutics starts enrolling subjects in first-in-human clinical trial of DEG6498, a first-in-class HuR-targeting molecular glue degrader

Degron Therapeutics ("Degron"), a biotechnology company developing a new class of molecular glue degrader (MGD) medicines targeting previously undruggable proteins, announced that its first-in-class HuR (Human antigen R)–targeting molecular glue degrader, DEG6498, has been successfully administered to the first clinical trial subject in a first-in-human Phase 1 study DEG6498-ONC-2401 (NCT07244835 - U.S.; CTR20254261 - China) on November 25, 2025 in China.

As the globally first molecular glue degrader targeting HuR, DEG6498 represents a highly innovative therapeutic approach with the potential to meet high unmet need across multiple indications. HuR is an RNA-binding protein playing critical roles in driving cancer, inflammatory and metabolic disorders, and has long been considered an undruggable target. Leveraging its proprietary molecular glue degrader discovery platform and innovative approaches, Degron has successfully overcome this challenge.

Degron Therapeutics has received clearance to initiate DEG6498 First-in-Human (FIH) Phase I study from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).  The First in Human study of DEG6498 is an open-label, multicenter, dose-escalation and expansion study designed to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and preliminary antitumor activity of DEG6498 in patients with advanced solid tumors.

"The dosing of the first patient marks an exciting milestone in the development of DEG6498 - the first HuR-targeting drug entering into clinical development stage", said Xiaobing Qian, M.D., PhD, Chief Development and Medical Officer. "HuR has been widely recognized as an important therapeutic target in regulating tumor proliferation and its microenvironment. Now applying Degron's innovative molecular glue degrader approach, we are able to remove it from the cancer cells and hope to bring improved treatment options for patients with many different types of hard to treat malignancies."

DEG6498 is a potent and orally bioavailable small molecule molecular glue degrader that induces the interaction between the E3 ubiquitin ligase component cereblon (CRBN) and the RNA binding protein Human antigen R (HuR), leading to the targeted degradation of HuR protein.

Degron Therapeutics is a biotechnology company advancing human health by developing novel medicines using its proprietary molecular glue-based targeted protein degradation drug discovery platform. The company's unique GlueXplorer® platform has created a rapidly expanding IP-protected compound library and screening and validation systems to discovery a new class of small-molecule medicines that target previously undruggable disease targets. The company's pipeline includes a growing number of clinical and preclinical programs for oncology, inflammation, neurology, and metabolic diseases.